The early years of were all about speed, with little regard for safety and weight limits. Competitors raced with large powerful engines up to 4,500 cc for normally aspirated and 1,500 cc for compressed engines.

1954

Engine size is limited to 2,500 cc for atmospheric engines and 750cc for engines with a compressor, producing around 290 bhp.

1955

Jack Brabham's Cooper is the first vehicle to have its engine relocated to the rear, improving handling and helping Brabham win his first world championship.

Minimum weight is increased to 500 kg and more safety features become mandatory, including extinguisher systems and higher roll bars.

1969

A maximum height limit and chassis width is introduced.

1970

Circuit inspections are required before all races, and barriers and fences are redesigned as pressure increases to improve safety.

1971

Cockpits are reconfigured to enable drivers to evacuate in less than five seconds. Atmospheric engines are now capable of producing up to 500 bhp and the maximum distance for races is set at 320 km.

1972

Minimum weight is increased to 550 kg and more safety features become mandatory, including head rests, six-point harnesses and safety foam in fuel tanks.

1973

Drivers are now assigned numbers and are required to complete a medical examination prior to racing. Chrome plating is banned from suspension parts, crushable structures are made mandatory for fuel tanks and minimum weight increases to 575 kg.

1974

Self-sealing fuel lines are required in vehicles while safety walls and sand traps are added to catch fencing at tracks.

1975

Fire resistant clothing is standardised and marshals are required at all events.

1976

Safety structures are added to dashboards and pedals while airboxes and similar cooling systems are banned.

1977

Standards are defined for helmets and gravel traps. Turbocharged engines now produce up to 1,000 bhp.

Cockpit openings are expanded and dual mirrors become mandatory. All races are now started by a professional race starter.

1980

Permanent medical facilities and fast response cars are required at all events.

1981

Flexible side skirts and setting a minimum ground clearance of 6 cm to reduce down-force. Safety cells now protect the driver's feet.

1982

In compliance with the Concorde Agreement, vehicles may no longer use diesel, gas turbine, orbital or rotary engines. Minimum weight is reduced to 580 kg and ride height limits are lifted.

1983

4WD vehicles and cars with more than four wheels are banned. Flat under-trays are reintroduced to combat the ground effect and minimum weight is reduced further to 540 kg.

1984

All drivers must now hold a super licence to compete and teams must build their own chassis. Fuel tanks are relocated to the centre of the car and must not exceed 220 litres, with in-race refuelling no longer permitted.

1985

Frontal impact crash tests are now required for all competing vehicles.

1986

Fuel capacity is reduced further to 195 litres per race. Following the death of Elio de Angelis, medical inspectors and medi-vac helicopters are required at all test sessions.

1987

Maximum capacity for normally aspirated engines is increased to 3,500 cc while boost pressure for turbo engines is capped at 4.0 bars.

1988

Boost pressure is limited even further to 2.5 bars and fuel capacity is reduced to 155 litres per race. Mandatory static crash tests are introduced for survival cells and fuel cells and the driver's feet must be positioned behind the front wheel axle.

1989

Turbocharged engines are banned altogether and fuel limits are removed for normally aspirated cars. Anti-doping testing is introduced for all drivers and new standards are set for pit walls.

Safety tests are made more stringent for fuel tanks, roll bars and seat belts. Engine power increases to 710 bhp.

1992

Safety cars are introduced and rear impact crash tests are required for all vehicles. Single car teams are no longer permitted and the points scoring system is revised.

1993

CVT transmission is banned before it even makes an appearance. Steering wheel circumference, rear wing height and rear tyre width are reduced while the thickness of head rests and front wing height increases.

1994

Electronic driver aids including ABS, active suspension, automatic transmission, four-wheel steering and traction control are all banned, while front and rear wings are reduced in size to limit down-force. Chicanes are introduced to reduce speeds on dangerous corners.

1995

Engine size is reduced to 3,000 cc, with maximum power around 650 bhp. Side impact tests are introduced and cockpits and chassis lengths are extended.

1996

Cars must finish within 107% of pole time to qualify for races. Safety and medical vehicles are standardised.

1997

Test tracks and medical centres must now be approved and accident data recorders become mandatory. Winglets on car sides and rears are banned.

1998

Maximum width is narrowed to 1.8 metres while cockpits become larger. Grooved tyres and single fuel bladders are made compulsory and asymmetric braking is banned.

Beryllium alloys are banned in chassis and engine builds, while the ban on traction control is lifted.

2002

Team orders and grids of more than 24 cars are banned. Stricter time penalties are imposed for false starts, exceeding speed limits, causing accidents and impeding drivers in other ways.

2003

Head and neck safety systems (HANS) are made mandatory and bi-directional telemetry is banned. The 107% rule is no longer applied to qualifying sessions, with drivers only needing to complete one flying lap.

2004

Fully automatic transmission, launch control and multi-element rear wings are banned. Minimum weight is increased to 600 kg, including the driver and fuel, and engine changes during the race incur a 10-place grid penalty.

2005

Engines are standardised at 3,000 cc V10s with no more than five valves, and must last at least two race weekends. Wings and rear diffusers are reduced in size to limit down-force.

2006

Engine size is reduced to 2,400 cc 90-degree V8s with four valves per cylinder and single injectors. Rear impact crash tests accelerate to 15m/s.

Traction control is banned for the second time as well as electronic starting assistance. Gearboxes are required to last for at least four race weekends.

2009

All aerodynamic structures excluding front and rear wings are banned. Engines must last for three races with revs being limited to 18,000 rpm, and kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) are introduced.

2010

Body dimensions are altered and minimum weight increased to 620 kg to accommodate KERS. Certain rules are relaxed for teams that comply with the budget cap.

2011

The 107% rule is reinforced for qualifying laps and the ban on team orders is lifted. Double diffusers, drag reduction systems and F-ducts are banned and limits are imposed on changes of direction, engines, gearboxes and tyres during races.

2012

Crash tests are made mandatory before pre-season testing, which is limited to three days. Lapped cars may now pass the safety car, but drivers are not permitted to leave the lines of the track.

2015 Australian Grand Prix Rule Changes Wall Chart | Coates Hire

2015 marks two decades of The Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park and Coates Hire is integral to the success of this global event. In celebration of the upcoming event, Coates Hire has created a wall chart of the latest Australian Grand Prix rule changes available for you to download.